Like the corresponding officials in other states, the original charge of the Secretary of State — to be the "Keeper of the Great Seal" — has expanded greatly since the office was first created. According to the state website, "Today, the Secretary of State is Florida's Chief of Elections, Chief Cultural Officer, the State Protocol Officer and the head of the Department of State."[1]

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Originally, the Secretary of State of Florida was elected by the people of the state in the general election. However, in 1998,[2] constitutional changes removed the Secretary of State from the elected Cabinet of the executive branch.[3] That year, Katherine Harris won the last election for Secretary of State.[4]